The Serbia defender is expected to be out for at least a month, leaving manager Carlo Ancelotti desperately short of full-back options with his side down to third in the Premier League title, four points behind Manchester United FC, having been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League. Ivanović was enjoying a sustained run in the side because José Bosingwa has been ruled out for the rest of the season after knee surgery and Juliano Belletti has also struggled with knee problems.

Paulo Ferreira, the fourth-choice right-back, is likely to fill in away to bottom side Portsmouth FC on Wednesday, with Yuri Zhirkov continuing at left-back because Ashley Cole is still out with a broken ankle. There was some good news for Ancelotti, however, as goalkeeper Petr Čech will be fit to return from a calf injury at Fratton Park.

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